Staff lacks professionalism. If you want to be part of a gym where members and staff behave as if they're still in junior high school; where destructive gossiping and cattiness is prevalent, then this is the gym for you. However, if you want to be part of a community that is welcoming and supportive of your fitness goals, there are far more superior gyms out there. When you are paying a premium price tag for a gym, being treated with decency and respect should be the least of your worries. This is not the case at Hardware Strength & Conditioning. Give your money to another gym. read more

Hardware Crossfit has been my home gym now for over 4 years. After taking a small break from an official Crossfit gym I noticed myself following and implementing Hardware's programming each day at an independent gym prompting me to join. Given the abundance of Crossfit gyms now available in the Chicago area, I was very fortunate to have made this decision. George and Jess (owners) are absolutely wonderful both from an owners and coaching standpoint as well as being just genuinely good people. They have created an incredibly positive and, most importantly, accepting environment. Their coaching staff is second to none which is due to the extensive shadowing hours a newer coach is required to perform prior to taking on a class of his/her own. All coaches can properly and safely demonstrate movements or at the very minimum explain proper technique. I've never felt unsafe or not properly coached. Lastly, George and Jess are always open to any kind of feedback and suggestions. They want to do anything they can to make members, old and new, feel the most comfortable and will do anything they can, within reason, to accommodate. This mentality then very notably trickles down through their staff. If you're on the north side of Chicago and considering Hardware, try it. And if you're visiting and looking to drop in somewhere, definitely reach out and stop by. read more

I like that the coaches will give you as much assistance or as little as you require. You can either come in and get your workout done or totally engage with members, coaches, everyone is super friendly... It makes working out not such a chore. read more

That was it! I was tired of the over crowded Cheetah gym, where I wouldn't do more socializing that working out, I was also unsure of how to push my self to my next fitness level without paying crazy amounts for personal training. That's when friend told me about Hardware Crossfit. Getting in touch with them and scheduling a first workout was painless - the e-mail communication was fast prompt and on the spot. After it was done nobody there tried to sell me a membership or get me to join. Me, without being able to catch my breath I was told "Hope to see you soon!". This is one reason why I joined. I went there the second (was not offered a membership again) and the third time - and that's when I decided to join! The staff is VERY supportive of you and dedicated to you succeeding in your fitness. They would even customize the workouts for you! Every timeI have e-mailed them or asked them a question I was given a prompt answer! What really got me to write this review is when George (the owner) came to me today and asked me... "What kind of performance goals are you looking to achieve and how can I help?" Spot on! #tryingtolookgoodinatanktop #summerisnear read more

I've been attending the standard one-hour sessions, 3-5 times a week for six months. My back and legs are stronger than they've ever been, and my cardiovascular fitness is as good as it's been since high school. Most importantly, Hardware has motivated me to make physical activity a part of my daily life. I feel and look better than I did six months ago and it's in large part due to the capable and supportive Hardware staff, and all the other gym members. I look forward to many more months of serious workouts. read more

Dropped in for an open gym session while in town for work. Great space with lots of equipment and a pretty chill atmosphere. The coaches I talked too were friendly and helpful. The shirts for sale are cute, too. read more

I wish the coaches were more experienced and could demo the moves. When you are asking an athlete to perform a move and you are not even level 1 certified or have had limitations since you have been hired, it is tough for the student to repect the quality. read more

Best CrossFit gym that I've ever been to, and the cleanest. Excellent people, excellent facility. Great coaching and a great environment.

Great box gym! Get your sweat on...make some new friends. Coaches demo and show scaled movements for all ability levels. Coach Ozzie is an inspiration and a testament to the benefits of lifelong fitness. George, the Head Coach and Owner, is a great personal trainer -- he's committed to helping you achieve your fitness goals! read more

Our gym closed less than a month ago and a lot of my workout buddies joined Hardware. Today I dropped in to see how my old workout partners were doing. They were all just happy. I'm glad they found a great box to call home. Everyone was so welcoming that I almost signed up on the spot! If you are on the north side of Chicago and looking for a box to drop in or join, I highly recommend Hardware. read more

I've always been a multi-sport athlete, but unfortunately arthritis of the knees got the best of me. I've tried swimming, biking, yoga, but none of these activities gave me the "high" I was looking for. I never thought I'd be able to do crossfit, but George and Jess make sure that each move and lift is done safely and with correct form. This gym is clean with friendly coaches and members. And they have showers which is a plus! read more

I used to belong to a cheap, standard gym. It was okay, but I got really bored of doing the same exercises on old equipment-I reached a plateau in my training. When I saw that Hardware Crossfit was only 2 blocks away from me, I decided to try it out. I booked a free session with George and it was so fun, I ended up joining. I now go 3 times a week and my fitness level has dramatically increased. Let me summarize some important points: -George, the owner and trainer is fantastic. He is super friendly, really knowledgable about each exercise. He really gets the best out of everybody. -The exercises are always varied. You will improve on total strength (via olympic lifting movements) and in cardio fitness. 10 minutes of this class works me harder than 1 hour at my previous gym. -The classes are smaller than a typical gym-everyone knows each other and are super friendly. This social element is encouraged-it really helps when others are cheering you to go on during a tough workout. If you want to get fitter than you ever have been in your life, get yourself down to Hardware Crossfit! read more

Hardware CrossFit is plain fantastic. I think a lot of people get nervous before trying something new. I had heard CrossFit was all meat-heads, and I was a little nervous but determined to check it out. I joined in the spring as chubby and out of shape as I'd been in a while. Not once did I feel judged or uncomfortable. The people who work out here are friendly and diverse. Even better, the caliber of instruction is excellent. No matter what your skill level, every workout begins with the instructor reviewing with everyone how to safely complete each move. They also approach you on an individual level to learn about your goals and offer personalized steps on how to get there. If you're interested in checking out CrossFit, I really couldn't recommend this gym (or 'box' as we call it) more! read more

I simply can't say enough positive things about this place, but I'll try: George and Jess have created an atmosphere that makes working out fun, informative, social, very rewarding, and competitive (if you want it to be). I joined Hardware in January 2013, and since then my attitude and approach to fitness and exercise has changed completely. I work harder - and feel more accomplished - during some of our warm ups than I ever did while working out on my own. What you'll get from Hardware is an opportunity to take pride in the work you do at the gym, instead of just enduring it. You'll find your strengths, crush your weaknesses, and do it all with the help of two awesome coaches, and encouragement from an amazing group of members. read more

Hardware is amazing! My fiancee and I joined a few weeks ago and we look forward to it every time we go! Instructors are very personable outgoing and knowledgeable. The people in the classes are wonderful to learn with as well. Everyone is welcoming and encouraging. Coming from someone who benches 35lbs when I started and another who is not fond of group fitness, we were not easy people to win over. If anyone is looking for a great way to get in shape and have fun doing it, Hardware CrossFit is the place to be! read more

I've been a member for about a year and a half, and have been doing Crossfit for four years. I've been to all kinds of boxes--ones that have a welcoming, home-y vibe but are uncomfortably small from a practical standpoint, ones that have the highest quality equipment but have have mediocre coaching or elitist members, etc--so I feel confident in saying Hardware covers pretty much all the bases. It's spacious, has world class coaching, has all the equipment you could want unless you're an extremely elite athlete and want something obscure, the owners are kind people, the community is welcoming, the programming changes frequently, and membership options are competitively priced. Morning, noon, and evening classes available, including Olympic lifting, yoga, and **accessible open gym times**. All of the coaches have their own style and really seem to love being there. The energy is contagious at this box and I'd recommend it to all levels. read more

I really love these guys. Great instructors. Great neighborhood folks. Everyone is having fun and working hard. I came in pretty worried about a back injury and everyone has been so careful and mindful of helping me stay safe while making sure I still get a good kick in the butt. Grade pro coaches who are all really warm and inspire a lot of confidence. read more

Excellent Crossfit gym with such a friendly atmosphere. Crossfit can be intimidating to those who are beginners and not exactly professionals but the owners and members make everyone that walks through their doors fell at home. Very nice equipment and always clean! They also offered weekly Foundation classes to assist new members in getting the hang of things and more advanced options for those of us looking to push the limits. read more

I took advantage of an introductory class offer here and it was awesome! The team was really good at starting at a basic level, but still making the workout challenging for people who want to take it to the next level! They were genuinely positive without sounding patronizing, and clearly want everyone to improve their fitness no matter where they are starting from. I highly recommending checking this place out! read more

Love this place and the ppl there. Very well organized and professionally run. Its good for all level athletes, coaches are knowledgeable, friendly and aways ready to help. Strong sense of comunity witch helps achiving even higher goals. Will always visit them when in Chicago. read more

Super nice place. George the owner and main trainer is very knowledgeable and supportive. He is very professional and makes sure that you don't injure yourself on the first days. Place is very clean and there plenty free parking. They are supportive if you have kids and members and very friendly. A great environment overall. Workouts are fun, and productive. read more

I was in town for work and dropped in twice earlier this week. The staff and members were very welcoming, and the box (facility, equipment, organization of the space, etc.) was in great shape. Both classes that I dropped in on were well run - group warm-up and movement prep was organized and structured. As for the programming, looking back at the preceding days before my drop in days, I could tell that there was a lot of thought put into each new WOD with respect to the WOD's from the previous days - good variety of movements throughout the week and complementary movements within a WOD. read more

After starting CrossFit at Hardware CrossFit, I hold all other CrossFit boxes to this standard. HWCF has such strong coaches and community that you will not regret joining at all. read more

I have been a member here for almost a year and I love it! The owners, George and Jess, are so welcoming to everyone and really good at what they do. All of the trainers are very knowledgeable and helpful, no matter what your skill level is. read more

Working out at Hardware Crossfit is often the best part of my day and has been for the past two years. Not only are the coaches knowledgeable, focused on safety and technique, but also fun, full of personality and can easily manage a class, no matter the size. The facility is awesome. It's really spacious and the equipment is in great shape. George and Jess, the owners, are always updating and looking for new ways to keep workouts fresh and fun and the gains, well, gaining. My body and confidence have totally changed in the last two years. I am doing things I never thought I could do in the gym but it has also extended to my life outside of the gym. What makes this gym so special is the community itself. It's the most supportive group of people I have been around and they genuinely want everyone to succeed. The members and the coaches together make this a truly special place read more

Joining Hardware 4.5 years ago was one of the best decisions I have ever made when it comes to my overall physical & mental health. Not only am I physically stronger but feeling more confident than I ever have in my entire life. Owners George & Jess have created a wonderful community that is welcoming to all and encourages much support from all members. I travel quiet often and drop in to other boxes every chance I get. While I have mostly only had positive experiences with this, I can say for sure that all the coaches at Hardware are top of chart when it comes to explaining & demonstrating the movements before each workout and this can be important for both new & existing members. If you're unsure of whether or not CrossFit is for you, this would be the best place to test that out. read more

Hardware Crossfit was the first box that I checked out when I moved to Chicago and I couldn't have made a better decision. George and Jess have created such an amazing community that makes going to the gym that much more enjoyable. Whether you are a new member, or a regular like me for the past 2+ years, all of the coaches will make it a point to remember your name and make sure you feel right at home! read more

A great team that always makes me feel welcome, fit, and appreciated. The diverse coaching team works with me to make the workouts accessible. I am stronger because of this community. read more

When I started coming here 6 months ago I was middle-aged and out of shape. I'm still middle-aged but am now in the best shape of my life because of the training and workouts I did here. Classes are small enough to allow everyone to get a lot of personal attention and coaching. All the coaches are super friendly and awesome at what they do. Classes are one hour and extremely efficient use of time for easy in and out. Great location and parking. Classmates very friendly and encouraging. Lots of space and not crowded. So glad I tried it. You should too. read more

The coaches at hardware are the most knowledgable, patient, and generous with their time. Owen is particularly wonderful. I am trying to maintain my works outs as much as I can during my pregnancy and Owen is always providing feedback, helpful substitutions, and great resources. Hardware CF is a wonderful community. I HIGHLY recommend to all. read more

I'm in the process of getting back into shape and I wanted something more challenging to add to my workouts. I was a brief member at Hardware from Dec to Jan. George got back to my initial inquiry about CF via email. I then met him a week later. George is amazing! He really takes the time to get to know more about you and your fitness goals. He is super friendly, positive, and motivating. The trainers I encountered are also friendly and motivating. This gym feels like a close knit community between trainers and members. Everyone is very friendly. Tony helped me a great deal. He teaches the intro courses for those that need to get the hang of the workouts. I felt so welcomed during my time at Hardware and had a great experience as a beginner. I wish I could have stayed at this gym but my Fiance and I purchased a home in Lakeview so I had to find a closer CF gym by our residence. The people at my current CF gym are nothing like Hardware which makes me miss the place even more. read more

if you are new, it would be hard to get to know anyone as the coaches are focused on the regulars. for the price that is charged a month, you would think there would be more quality instruction. it sucks to be new and feel like an outsider. people who have been there for years said they go there but haven't really seen any results to write home about. read more